AMC opposes the City of Winnipeg’s pursuit of taxi pre-payment
June 12, 2019
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, MB _ The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is disappointed the City of Winnipeg is pursuing the development of a mandatory taxi pre-payment pilot project that would require all taxi passengers to pre-pay on certain days and times.
“The Taxi Pre-Payment Pilot appears to be working toward a pre-determined conclusion to solidify pre-payment instead of focusing on how the existing provision of taxi services continues to adversely impact First Nations women,” said AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “Currently, taxi drivers are already allowed to ask for pre-payment, and there are no restrictions on the time or date when the pre-payment can be requested. The AMC has heard that this practice is unilateral, and is not applied in the same way to all individuals.”
In 2016, a number of grassroots individuals developed voluntary rideshare services for Indigenous women such as Neechi Rides and Ikwe Safe Rides. Since then, new rules were put in place that restricted rideshare services, and only Ikwe Safe Rides remains.